PoV: Grian

I fight to stay awake as Scar sleeps through the rest of the night. Joel's screams ring in my ears still and I try to figure out who the cannonshot could've been... we would've heard if it was Etho... But apart from that? No idea. Pearl could've caught another victim. False could've caught another victim. Maybe Etho found Pearl and got revenge... Martyn or Impulse could be dead. Or could've killed someone. 

The day dawns slowly. Scar's stayed asleep the whole night. Good. He deserves the rest. And as the morning creeps awake, he does too.

'...Grian...?' He mumbles, still half asleep. I smile over at him. 

'Good morning, Scar... good sleep?'

'Yeah... yeah...' He sits up, wincing from some past injury. 'Peaceful night?'

'Very peaceful.' I yawn. Scar notices.

'You need sleep too... come on, I know you didn't get any yesterday.'

'Scar...'

'Sleep. Come on, lie down over here and sleep for a couple hours. I'll stay on watch and...'

A rustle. 

I turn sharply, standing. Behind me, Scar does the same as a bleeding tribute appears through the bushes.

He stops, panting.

My hands clench.

Impulse.

'Help- I- I need help- Pearl... Pearl killed Tango and... and I ran away and I didn't... I didn't know what to do... and... and she might still be after me... and... and I found Martyn and False... and... and Martyn... Martyn killed False...'

'What?!' I step closer, not comprehending. 

'They... allied I think... and then when False's back was turned... Martyn just stabbed her in the back and... she died...' 

'That's... the careers all gone.' Scar murmurs. I still don't understand. False... is dead? And MARTYN killed her? I note in my mind to watch out for him. The dark horse of the server. 

'And... and now... I need stuff... I... I need friends... I need some kind of... of... medicine...'

'NO!'

I shove Impulse to the ground, just hearing Tango demanding the same. And Mumbo... Mumbo...

'MUMBO I CAN'T FIND IT!'

'WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T FIND IT?!'

Impulse doesn't move. He's too shocked as he just lies on the ground. I pin him there with a foot on his leg.  

'Grian?'

'Let me tell you a story, Impulse. About what happened to last time you took something from me.' It's pure hate and pure pent up grief that keeps me running, functioning, talking.

'Impulse. He... he's got it... I'm sorry.'

'What?'

'I... I didn't...'

'You came into our base. You found me and Mumbo. And we helped you. And we helped Zedaph. We gave you supplies you needed.' The memories boil up inside. 'And you were eternally grateful as you disappeared again into the wilderness of the arena.'

'MUMBO HOLD ON! I'm so sorry! I'm so so sorry!'

'Grian, this isn't your fault...'

Only a sob back. I give a small laugh.

'And then Doc and False attacked us. And imagine my reaction when I realised that medicine we generously gifted you wasn't in our bags. When Mumbo died. But I know who had it.' He tries to claw away from me. I don't let him get far.

'Grian...'

'YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DIE!'

Cannonshot.

'YOU.' I stab the trident in the ground, blocking his way. He freezes.

'Grian, stop this.'

'Scar, shut up.'

'I- I didn't mean to... I...'

'SHUT UP!' 

He curls up tighter, just crying with terror. Because of me. Because of these games. I yank my trident out the ground.

'Mumbo's dead because of you.' I crouch next to him, eyes blurring with furious tears. 'My friend is dead because you didn't give back the one thing that might've saved him.'

'My friends- they're all gone too... I understand what... how you...'

'And now I'm going to watch you die in front of me.'

'Skizz... Skizz if you're... if there's a camera... somewhere... please... don't... get mad... I... I tried to win... I tried to get far...' Impulse screams as I stab at his hand. Miss.

'Grian, stop this. Let him go. You're not thinking rationally. You need sleep.' I ignore Scar behind me. Impulse has stopped talking, the only sound he's making a continuous quiet whimper. 

'Are you done talking to Skizz?' 

'No- No I... I need more time...' 

'To what? Say goodbye forever?' 

'Please! No! Please don't...'

I raise the trident above my head. A flash of movement behind before...

'GRIAN DON'T!' 

Scar grabs my arm, trying to drag me back. 

'HE KILLED MUMBO!' I turn and slash.

Scar staggers back, shocked, one hand hiding his bleeding cheek. I don't hesitate before returning to Impulse and stabbing. 

He screams in pain as I hit his arm, curling up tighter, sobbing, apologising over and over again for something he can never make better. 

'GRIAN! G... Grian... stop...' I turn again. Scar steps away, eyes wide. Fear. He's scared. 'I... remember... remember how you felt when... when you killed Jevin... and... and when Keralis and Iskall died... and... and don't... don't do this... don't kill him...'

'Only one of us can survive, Scar. But of course, if you want to let him win and make everything me and Cub sacrificed for you worth it, by all means. I can kill you instead.' The words come before my tired brain can comprehend. 

'Grian...'

'This is a dangerous game, Scar. Do you want to play properly or do you want to pretend being kind to this murderer will help.'

'I DIDN'T KILL ANYONE!' Impulse bursts out. 

'SILENCE!'

'Grian... seriously...' 

'YOU'D BE DEAD IF IT WASN'T FOR ME!' I scream at him. I don't care that he saved me too. 

'AND YOU'D BE DEAD IF IT WASN'T FOR ME!' Scar yells back, voice straining against his growing hurt.

'MAYBE I WANT TO BE DEAD!'

Silence. Scar can't fight his sobs, blinking tears. Impulse sobs again behind. 

'Let Impulse go. You'll feel better if you do.'

'You haven't killed anyone.' My voice comes out cold and quiet. 'You don't know if it'll make me feel better or not.'

'Well I don't want to kill anyone. And you don't either.' Scar steps closer. I hold my trident closer. 'Grian, just hand over the trident and let Impulse go.'

'No.'

'Grian... please.' 

'You can't tell me what to do, Scar.'

'Give me the trident before you do something you'll regret.' He holds out his hand. I consider 'giving' him the trident the same way Doc did. 

'No.'

'Grian!' 

And before I think he runs at me. 

And I stab back. 

A scream of pain. I don't take the time to see the damage as I return to Impulse, barely hearing his terrified yells over the heartbeat throbbing in my ears. 

I stab him in the chest. 

He collapses. 

And a single cannon sounds

:)

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